Damping device for a stationary bicycle

ABSTRACT

A damping device for a stationary bicycle has a main wheel defining a side-opening chamber. The main wheel has a magnetic layer mounted thereon. Multiple clamping wheels are received in the side-opening chamber and sandwich a sleeve securely mounted on the main wheel. The clamping wheels are respectively connected to a driving disk. The driving disk is securely connected with a shaft. At least one damping member having at least one magnetic member is pivotally connected inside the side-opening chamber so as to generate magnetic force with the magnetic layer of the main wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a damping device, and more particularly to a damping device for a stationary bicycle that has a main wheel to receive components of the damping device and thereby allow the damping device to have a compact single wheel appearance.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A number of exercise devices have been designed and developed to enable people to take exercise indoors. Among those exercising devices, a stationary bicycle for simulating riding bicycles has become very popular in recent years. With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional stationary bicycle is shown and has a flywheel (90), two pedals (91) each connected to opposite sides of the flywheel (90), a damping wheel (92) connected to the flywheel (90) by a belt (94) to provide resistance. In operation of the stationary bicycle, a rider steps on the pedals (91) to drive the flywheel (90), and by the connection provided by the belt (94), the damping wheel (92) is driven accordingly. The resistance provided by the damping wheel (92) is adjustable so as to enable the rider to workout suitably.

[0005] Although the stationary bicycle mentioned has numerous well-known advantages, a shortcoming of the bicycle is its size. The stationary bicycle has a “twin wheel” structure, that is, the flywheel (90) and the damping wheel (92) are spaced apart a particular distance. This twin wheel structure is bulky and thereby the size of the stationary is not compact enough for convenient storage.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention tends to provide a damping device for a stationary bicycle to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a damping device for a stationary bicycle such that the damping device has its components received inside a main wheel and thereby enables the damping device to have a single wheel appearance which is compact and convenient when storing the stationary bicycle.

[0008] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a damping device assembled on a frame of the stationary bicycle;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the damping device which is exploded from the frame of the stationary bicycle;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the damping device in accordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the damping device taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5 in a static state;

[0013]FIG. 5 is an operational, side view of the damping device; and

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional stationary bicycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a damping device in accordance with the present invention is shown. The damping device is assembled on a frame (72) of the stationary bicycle, and has a shaft (18) transversely extending through the damping device. Two arms (71) are respectively connected to opposite ends of the shaft (18), and two pedals (70) further respectively connect to extending ends of the arms (71).

[0016] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the damping device includes a main wheel (10), multiple clamping wheels (12), multiple driving shafts (14), a driving wheel (16), an inner disk (20), at least one damping member (22), a controlling ring (30), and a covering disk (40).

[0017] The main wheel (10) has a disk portion (101) and a wall (102) extending from a circumference of the disk portion (101). The disk portion (101) and the wall (102) further define a chamber (103) having a side opening. A through hole (1012) is centrally defined in the disk portion (101), and a sleeve (104) extends through the through hole (1012) and securely mounted to the disk portion (101). The sleeve (104) has two bearings (1041) mounted to opposite sides of the sleeve (104) and a central hole (1042) defined therethrough. A magnetic layer (1022) is firmly attached to an inner surface of the wall (102).

[0018] The multiple clamping wheels (12) are respectively and pivotally connected to the driving wheel (16) by the multiple driving shafts (14) that extend freely through the corresponding clamping wheels (12). The driving shafts (14) each have a large head end (140) and a tail end (142). Each of the tail ends (142) is securely connected to one of the clamping wheels (12). The driving wheel (16) has a hollow tube (160)centrally formed on the driving wheel (16) and communicating two sides of the driving wheel (16). The shaft (18) extends through the tube (160) so configured that the shaft (18) is able to securely engage with an inner surface of the tube (160).

[0019] The inner disk (20) is configured with a concave side and a convex side. The concave side defines a recess (200). A flange (201) is formed as a circumferential wall defining the recess (200). A protrusion (202) is integrally formed on the convex side of the inner disk (20) for the controlling ring (30) to be disposed around. A shaft hole (203) is centrally defined through the inner disk (20) so as to allow the shaft (18) to extend through the shaft hole (203).

[0020] The cover disk (40) and the inner disk (20) are securely connected together and define a receiving space therebetween. A through bore (400) is centrally defined in the cover disk so as to allow the shaft (18) to extend freely therethrough. A communicating slot (402) is also defined through the cover disk (40) to allow a wire (305) (shown in FIG. 5) to extend through the communicating slot (402).

[0021] The controlling ring (30) is disposed in the receiving space and extends freely around the protrusion (202) of the inner disk (20). The controlling ring (30) has at least one sliding slot (301) defined through the controlling ring (30) and a connector (303) defined therein for connecting with the wire (305).

[0022] The damping member (22) is arcuate and disposed in the receiving space near an edge of the inner disk (20). The damping member (22) has a connecting end (221) pivotally connected to the inner disk (20) and the cover disk (40), and a leg (222) extending from an opposite end relative to the connecting end (221). A sliding protuberance (223) is formed on the leg (222) and slidingly received in the sliding slot (301) of the controlling ring (30) (as shown in FIG. 5).

[0023] When assembling the damping device, the clamping wheels (12) together with the driving wheel (16) are mounted inside the chamber (103) defined in the main wheel (10), wherein the clamping wheels (12) firmly clamp a surface of the sleeve (104). The shaft (18) which is securely engaged with the driving wheel (16) extends through the central hole (1042) defined in the sleeve (104). The inner disk (20), the controlling member (22), the controlling ring (30), and the cover disk (40) are securely mounted inside the chamber (103), wherein the inner surface of the flange (201) of the inner disk (20) firmly engages with surfaces of the head ends (140) of the driving shafts (14) so that when the inner disk (20) rotates, the driving shafts (14) rotate accordingly to drive the clamping wheels (12). Also the shaft (18) extends through the shaft hole (203) and the through bore (400), while the wire (305) extends through the communicating slot (402) and connects to the connector (303) of the controlling ring (30). Finally, the damping device is assembled onto the frame (72) of the stationary bicycle by two retaining plates (50). The retaining plates (50) each have an opening (51) centrally defined through the corresponding retaining plate (50) to allow the shaft (18) to extend through the opening (51). The retaining plates (50) are respectively attached to two opposite sides of the damping device and are further securely mounted to the frame (72) by means of riveting, welding, or screwing.

[0024] When in operation, a user steps on the pedals (91) to drive the shaft (18) and further drives the driving wheel (16) securely connected to the shaft (18). When the driving wheel (16) rotates, due to the head ends (140) of the driving shafts (140) being firmly engaged with the flange (201) of the inner disk (20) which is stationary, the driving shafts (14) therefore rotate and drive the clamping wheels (12) securely connected to the connecting ends (142) of the driving shafts (14). When the clamping wheels (12) rotate, the sleeve (104) that is sandwiched between the clamping wheels (12) is driven, and also the main wheel (10) securely connected with the sleeve (104) is driven to rotate. Due to the magnetic force provided between the magnetic layer (1022) of the main wheel (10) and the magnetic member (24) of the damping member (22), the magnetic force acts as resistance to the rotation of the main wheel (10). It is noted from the above description in accompaniment with the drawings, the driving mechanism of the damping device starts from the relatively low speed rotation of the shaft (18) to the high speed rotation of the main wheel 10). Therefore, the resistance is magnified to provide a suitable damping force for the user to overcome and thereby exercise the user's legs.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 5, when adjusting the damping force provided by the damping device, the wire (305) is used to pivot the damping member (22), and a spring (307) connected to the controlling ring (30) and an immovable point of the damping device provides return force during the pivotal movement of the damping member (22). When necessary to reduce the damping force, the wire (305) is adjusted to pull the controlling wheel (30) to rotate in a clockwise direction (with respect to FIG. 5). The protuberance (223) thus slides in the sliding slot (301) and pivots the damping member (22) away from the magnetic layer (1022). Due to the increase in the distance between the magnetic member (24) and the magnetic layer, the damping force reduces consequentially. On the other hand, when necessary to increase the damping force, the wire (305) is released so that the controlling wheel (30) is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (with respect to FIG. 5) by the return force provided by the spring (307). When the controlling wheel (30) is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction, the damping member (22) moves close to the magnetic layer (1022) and thereby increases the damping force. At least one restricting piece (206) is provided close to a peripheral edge of the inner plate (20) so as to limit the pivotal movement of the damping member (22) from touching the main wheel (10).

[0026] Therefore, by pulling or releasing the wire (305) the damping force is able to be easily adjusted to suit the user.

[0027] From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:

[0028] 1. The damping device has a compact single wheel appearance. Main components of the damping device are received inside the main wheel (10) so that the size of the stationary bicycle is able to be reduced for convenient storage.

[0029] 2. The damping force provided by the damping device is adjustable to suit individuals with different strengths.

[0030] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A damping device for a stationary bicycle, the damping device comprising: a main wheel having a disk portion and a wall extending from a circumference defining the disk portion, the disk portion and the wall defining a side-opening chamber, a sleeve securely mounted on the disk portion, and a magnetic layer mounted on an inner surface of the wall; multiple clamping wheels received in the side-opening chamber and firmly sandwiching the sleeve between the multiple clamping wheels so as to drive the main wheel; a driving wheel received in the side-opening chamber and having multiple driving shafts extending through the driving wheel, each one of the driving shafts having a connecting end and a head end, the connecting end securely connected to the clamping wheel, and the driving wheel further having a tube centrally formed on the driving wheel; an inner disk securely mounted in the side-opening chamber and having an annular flange and a shaft hole centrally defined through the inner disk, the head ends of the driving shafts firmly engaged with the flange so that when the driving wheel rotates, the flange provides reaction forces to the driving shafts to drive the clamping wheels to rotate; a controlling ring positioned in the side-opening chamber and pivotally mounted on the inner disk; a wire connected to the controlling ring so as to pivot the controlling ring; a spring connected to the controlling ring and an immovable point of the damping device so as to provide return force when the controlling ring is pivoted by the wire; at least one damping member positioned in the side opening chamber, the at least one damping member having an end pivotally connected with the inner disk and an opposed end connected to the controlling ring so as to control the pivotal movement of the at least one damping member, the at least one damping member further having at least one magnetic member to generate magnetic force with the magnetic layer of the main wheel; a shaft extending through the shaft hole defined in the inner disk, the tube of the driving wheel, the sleeve of the main wheel, wherein the tube is securely connected with the shaft; and two pedals respectively connected to opposite ends of the shaft for a user to step on to drive the shaft, whereby the user steps on the two pedals to drive the main wheel, and the magnetic force generated by the magnetic layer and the magnetic member provides a damping resistance to the rotation of the main wheel so as to exercise the user's leg, and also the damping resistance is able to be adjusted by pulling or releasing the wire to suit requirements of different users.
 2. The damping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling ring further has at least one sliding slot defined in the controlling ring, and the opposite end of the at least one damping member further has a leg extending from the at least one damping member, a protuberant is formed at a distal end of the leg and slidingly received in the at least one sliding slot so as to control the pivotal movement of the at least one damping member.
 3. The damping device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a cover disk securely mounted to the main wheel opposed to the disk portion of the main wheel so as to cover the side-opening chamber defined in the main wheel.
 4. The damping device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover disk further has a communicating slot defined therethrough to allow the wire to extend into the side opening-chamber defined in the main wheel via the communicating slot.
 5. The damping device as claimed in claim 3 further comprising two retaining plates, one of the retaining plates being securely mounted on an outer surface of the cover plate and adapted to securely connect to the stationary bicycle, and the other one of the retaining plates being securely mounted on an outer surface of the disk portion of the main wheel and adapted to securely connect to the stationary bicycle so as to securely connect the damping device to the stationary bicycle.
 6. The damping device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising two retaining plates, one of the retaining plates being securely mounted on an outer surface of the cover plate and adapted to securely connect to the stationary bicycle, and the other one of the retaining plates being securely mounted on an outer surface of the disk portion of the main wheel and adapted to securely connect to the stationary bicycle so as to securely connect the damping device to the stationary bicycle. 